In Ugandan rugby circles, Dorothy Nekesa needs little introduction. Known simply as “Dot,” her journey mirrors the path many young women in the sport hope to follow from player to referee, educator and now administrator.
What sets her apart is her commitment to making that path easier for others.
A former Thunderbirds player, Nekesa recently stood out at the club’s first-ever Annual General Meeting, where she urged players to plan beyond their playing days. Her message was clear, rugby doesn’t end when the boots come off.
Speaking from experience, Nekesa addressed the long-standing challenges facing women’s sport, particularly limited attention and sponsorship. But she also placed responsibility closer to home.
“Women’s sport has not received the desired attention,” she said. “But we also have to push ourselves and support other women to reach the level of sponsorship the men enjoy.”
For her, that push begins with mentorship. Nekesa believes former players have a duty to guide younger ones, not only on the field, but into leadership roles that influence how the game is run.
Her own shift began while she was still playing, encouraged by Alice Kibombo, then one of the few women involved at the Uganda Rugby Union.
Nekesa ventured into refereeing, a male-dominated space, alongside teammates Stella Kyalikunda and others. They started humbly, often as touch judges.
“We were told that once we understood the rules as officials, not players, we would progress,” she recalled.
She did exactly that. Nekesa climbed to level two refereeing, later qualifying as an educator. Today, she conducts referee level one and two courses, serves as a match commissioner, and continues to champion women’s involvement in officiation.
One of her proudest moments has been seeing more women step into those roles. Uganda now has over five female match commissioners, and the country’s top referee, Sauda Adiru, is a woman Nekesa personally mentored.
“That gives me pride,” she said. “Seeing women succeed in roles once thought to be only for men.”
Her vision stretches beyond officiation. She points to professionals like Faith Komagum, a level three medical practitioner and World Rugby trainer, as proof that women can thrive in every area of the sport from medical services to administration.
While realistic about rugby’s financial limits, Nekesa values the sport for what it builds: networks, leadership and personal growth.
“Clubs are always looking for people to fill management roles,” she noted. “The women are there. What’s missing is mentorship.”
To her, leadership is learned, not inherited. She challenges former players to become role models for girls who may not yet see themselves as leaders.
“You can still give back after you stop playing,” she said. “Leadership is possible if you commit to it.”
Now serving as the Uganda Rugby Union Age Grade Rugby Director and the assistant Organising Secretary of the Uganda Sports Press Association, Dorothy Nekesa continues to shape Ugandan rugby, no longer from the try line but from the structures that will define its future.
